Feb 28, 2017

How To Understand What Info Mobile Apps Are Collecting About You

They are collecting every single bit of information about you they can based on your use of your mobile device.

And then they use algorithms based on that data to create projections about you.
Other than that, you're a complete cypher...JL

Lisa Guttermuth reports in Slate:

“If you’re not paying, you’re the product.” Your age, interests,
purchasing habits, frequented locations, health, and social map are all
valuable pieces of information that comprise a digital shadow, which can be packaged, bundled, and sold to the highest bidder.

There’s an old truism that’s popular among privacy advocates: “If you’re not paying, you’re the product.” Your age, interests, purchasing habits, frequented locations, health, and social map are all valuable pieces of information that comprise a digital shadow, which can be packaged, bundled, and sold to the highest bidder.

It’s tempting to download the coffee shop app so you can have the convenience of ordering ahead. Figuring out what data that app is collecting, on the other hand, can be awfully inconvenient. But many apps engage in irresponsible practices that are worth understanding. Once you know how to spot them, you can decide which apps are worth the potential invasion of privacy, and which should be banished from your devices forever.

Apps that collect way more information than is necessary—and sometimes share and sell it

Take flashlight apps. They’re meant to do one simple thing: turn on the LED flash of mobile phones. But many ended up having access to a lot of unnecessary data and phone functions, including users’ calendars, location, and camera. The infamous “The Brightest Flashlight” app shared users’ precise location and unique device identifier to third parties without disclosing that it did so—not exactly critical to a functioning flashlight. The Federal Trade Commission addressed this case in 2013, but there are plenty of other examples where this is not the case. Be wary of the cartoon game that wants to access your personal photos, or the weather app that requires access to your microphone. Uber, for instance, requires access to your location data even when you are not using it unless you turn off location data entirely on your phone.

First, ask yourself what the added value of having an app is: Plenty of people use Facebook and other services on their mobile devices, for example, without having an app. Downloading an app provides companies with more direct access to your information than a visit to their website will. Prime examples of this are the Facebook and Messenger apps. You can access Facebook from your mobile browser, but once you try to use the messaging feature there, you’ll be out of luck—you’re forced to download Messenger. As the Guardian put it: “The real reason that Facebook is pushing chat into its Messenger is to create another platform or silo from which Facebook can access you as a user.”

You may be tempted to just give up and let all your data hang out. But you can take control of your information. Here are four steps you can take right now to better improve your digital autonomy through your mobile device, inspired by the MyShadow project—which has worked for years to promote awareness around digital shadows and what users can do about them.

1.Take control and change your settings.

Apple iOS gives you a clear, useful overview of which apps have access to different types of data; you can find it by going to Settings > Privacy.

Android version 6.0 (Marshmallow) and up also enables users to manage app permissions by going to Settings > App > Permissions. Turn off permissions to data tracking when they are not in use. For example, ride and map apps don’t need to have access to your location data when you’re not actively using them. (Bonus: Turning these permissions off will also save on battery power.)

2.Check disclosures.

If you’re not going to read the privacy policy, at least make sure the app has one. And if you’re concerned about your financial, fitness, health, or other sensitive information being secure, then check to see how seriously the app maker takes encrypting user data by looking at their disclosures in the privacy policy, which should be located at the bottom of the page in the app store before you download.

3.Use apps that maximize your privacy.

Signal is a secure messaging app that uses end-to-end encryption to protect your texts and voice calls. DuckDuckGo is a search engine that explicitly does not collect, store, or share any information about you. Disconnect is also an app that seeks to protect users from tracking and improve device performance. These apps clearly state in their privacy policies what information (if any) they must collect in order for the app to function and that they do not share this information with any third parties unless legally bound to do so. Signal may not have stickers for your photos, but it’s a lot more secure.

4.Perform regular app maintenance.

This means regularly updating your apps, checking permissions, and deleting unused apps. Updates are usually good things, because they come with new security features and improvements. However, when apps are updated, they can often access different data and in different ways. What’s more, many apps, through security bug or design, collect data even when the app is dormant. The Norwegian Consumer Council recently performed an app audit that highlighted how often this happens. If you haven’t used an app in over a month and can easily download it again should you need it in the future, bin it.

Post a Comment

As a Partner and Co-Founder of Predictiv and PredictivAsia, Jon specializes in management performance and organizational effectiveness for both domestic and international clients. He is an editor and author whose works include Invisible Advantage: How Intangilbles are Driving Business Performance.Learn more...